Chapter 360

Olivia

It seemed as though sleep was going to elude me again on the night that Edward announced he would be staying for one more day, but much to my surprise, I slipped away much more quickly than usual. In fact, before I knew it, I was lost in a world of dreams…

I was walking down an empty street, the sidewalk bathed in the dim glow of old street lights. It had the eerie quiet of someplace abandoned, except I wasn’t alone.

Ahead of me, I saw Edward, his tall frame unmistakable, hands buried deep in his pockets as he strolled along. Even in my dream, I felt an involuntary shiver; there was something off about this. His movements were stiff, and his head swiveled from left to right as though he was watching for something.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I followed him. Every step he took seemed calculated, heavy with intent.

I trailed a good distance behind, careful not to draw his attention. He finally stopped in front of a dilapidated house, its windows boarded up, an uninviting sense of decay hanging around it.

Edward went in, and after a moment’s hesitation, so did I. The inside of the house was no better than its exterior. The walls were peeling, and there was a damp, musty smell that filled the air. I saw Edward move into a room, and I peeked through the slightly ajar door.

There was an old mirror in the room, coated with layers of dust and grime. Edward stood in front of it, his reflection barely visible.

And then something happened that I couldn’t quite believe: his form seemed to shift. The tall, older man that I had come to know transformed into a young woman, slender and draped in a dress that flowed down to her feet. Her long, black hair covered her face, obscuring her features.

Just when I was about to pull back, the woman in the mirror whipped around to face me. She pointed a slender finger directly at me, and her invisible eyes seemed to pierce right through my soul.

…I jolted awake in a cold sweat, my heart pounding a mile a minute. I sat up, gasping for air, my hands clutching at the sheets. The morning light was streaming through the windows, and I realized Nathan wasn’t beside me; he must have gotten up already.

Still reeling from the dream, I mentally reached out to my wolf. “What was that about?” I asked, gasping for air.

My wolf’s voice resonated in my head, calm and composed as always. “It’s probably the stress, Olivia. I didn’t sense anything unusual from the dream.”

“But it felt so real,” I argued back, trying to wrap my head around the vividness of the dream. I really felt like I was there for a second, in that dilapidated house, watching as Edward shifted into someone he wasn’t. I rarely had dreams that vivid, unless my mind was trying to tell me something. Was that the case here?

“Dreams have a way of playing tricks on us,” my wolf responded, her tone unwavering. “Especially when we’re already on edge.”

“It wasn’t just a trick,” I insisted. “There was a message in there, something unsettling. I’m sure of it.”

“Messages or not, dreams pull from your subconscious fears and hopes. This could very well be your mind’s way of dealing with the uncertainties around Edward.”

I sighed, considering her words. My wolf had a knack for grounding me, for bringing logic into play when my human instincts were going haywire. “Fine. Maybe you’re right,” I conceded. “Edward is leaving today, and I should just let him go. Maybe then these weird experiences will stop.”

I glanced at the clock, realizing that it was already eight in the morning. There was no point in trying to get back to sleep now, so I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and made my way to the door.

Padding softly down the hall, I noticed Edward’s door was ajar again. I approached cautiously and peeked inside to see him packing his things.

A wave of relief washed over me. Don’t get me wrong, Edward had been helpful—especially that one time with the twins—but something about him always left me uneasy.

“Morning, Edward,” I greeted, leaning against the doorway.

He looked up, startled for a moment, then relaxed when he saw it was me. “Ah, Olivia, good morning. You’re up early.”

“I could say the same about you,” I replied, smiling. “Need some help with these bags?”

He hesitated before answering. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“It’s no imposition,” I insisted, stepping into the room. My mind whirled, thinking to myself that if I could just get him out of the house a little faster, then maybe I would feel better.

As I bent down to pick up a bag, my hand brushed against the talisman I always wore around my neck. Suddenly, it vibrated violently, as if warning me of some imminent danger. I froze, my eyes widening, my grip tightening around the handle of the bag.

Edward seemed to notice my sudden stillness. “Is everything alright, Olivia?”

I looked up to find his eyes locked onto mine, scrutinizing me in a way that made me uncomfortable. “Y-Yeah, of course,” I stammered. “Just...you know, morning stiffness.”

He moved closer, reaching out to grab the bag from my hands. “Let me take this one. It’s a bit heavy.”

Before I could resist, he tugged it away, maybe with a bit more force than I expected. I stumbled from the force of it, gripping my hand where he had practically wrenched the bag from my fingers.

He shot me a look that showed concern on the surface but something else bubbling below—something that I couldn’t quite read.

“Sorry,” he said, almost a little coldly. “Didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine.” I lowered my hand to my side and drew in a breath, straightening myself. “Are you sure I can’t help somehow?” I asked, already feeling a bit relieved as the talisman’s vibrations weakened the further the bag moved away from me.

“Yes, I’ve got it. Thank you for your help,” he said, picking up the remaining bags.

I followed him down the stairs, a gnawing feeling at the back of my mind. The vibration of the talisman was too unusual to ignore, and it made me more cautious of Edward’s hasty retreat with his bag. What was he hiding?

We reached the front door, and he turned to me. “I really appreciate the hospitality, Olivia. You and Nathan have been wonderful hosts.”

“It was our pleasure,” I said, although my smile didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Safe travels, Edward.”

He opened the door, glancing back one last time. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon. Goodbye, Olivia.”

With that, he stepped out, bags in tow, and shut the door behind him.

I watched through the window as he loaded his bags into the car. His movements were swift, his glances occasionally darting back toward the house. But within minutes, the car was speeding down the road, disappearing from sight.

And finally, I could breathe.